Saidan Toofan M346, chestnut stallion, born 2002, by Jellaby Alyatim M130 out of Saida Fajer M72
Shuwaimaan Mishwaar M401, black stallion, born 2006, by Rabdaan Naif M154 out of Shuwaimah Nafaa M97
Obeyaan Smaier M439, grey stallion, born 2007, by Dhahmaan Faraj M157 out of Obeyah Samira M262
Dhahmaan Hoobeishi 1085, dark bay stallion, born 1998, by Kuheilaan Umm Zorayr Al Dheleem 407 out of Dhahma Umm Wajnah 821
Obeyaan Azheer M361, grey stallion, born 2003 by Dahmaan Shaban M84 out of Obeyah Al Gabra M153
This photo, also from Kina Murray, is from the 2007 WAHO conference in Syria, from the post-conference Tour to North Eastern Syria. In Kina’s words: “[This photo] was taken when we had many horses presented to us when we were hosted by the Tai [Bedouins]. She was a lovely mare. […] I do remember that the owner of the mare (sorry I know he was an Ibn Ghorab but dont have his first name) was not only holding his mare so proudly, but also 2 mobile phones, and a large gun which you can just about see in the photo! “ Below a photo I took of Ibn Ghurab’s mares in Rumaylan, North Eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border, two years earlier, in 2005. Click on it to enlarge it. Happy times…
I love this photo of the desert-bred Ubayyah Suhayliyah Reem al-Oud in Bedouin gear with Kina Murray riding. It was taken in the North East Syria in 2002. Here’s Kina’s description of this moment: “Attached is me having a gentle walk on an elderly mare on the trip when we went to do the investigation on all the horses that were added to the studbook, in 2002. […] I can’t remember her strain, possibly Obeyah Seheilieh, I rode her when we visited the home of Sheikh Mezer Ojail Abdull Kareem of the Shammar in Al Hassaka, as far as I recall. One of my best memories ever. In fact she had just taken part in an impromptu 5km race across the desert! Here are a couple of quotes from the report I wrote about that trip: “At the home of Sheikh Mezer Ojail Abdull Kareem of the Shammar in Al Hassaka, a slightly longer race across the desert with about 5 mares taking part was arranged for our entertainment, it seemed that this was a regular activity. One of the mares taking part was 22 years old. The ‘finishing line’ appeared to be exactly where our group was standing, and it…
Mlolesh Sehaam M605, chestnut mare, born 2010, by Dhahmaan Alashgar M139 out of Mlolesh Al Mashoora M269
Mlolshaan Adbas M623, bay stallion, born 2011, by Jellaby Maroof M309 out of Mlolesh Khalasa M107
Mlolshaan Al Dhakheel M429, bay stallion, born 2006, by Jellaby Nader M46 out of Mlolesh Khalasa M107
Mlolshaan Enaad M549, grey stallion, by Krayaan Sager M197 out of Mlolesh Al Haiza 1149
Krushaan Bader M498, bay stallion, born 2008, by Jellaby Mansoor M152 out of Lettice BHRSP 290 (non asil) (Lettice was imported from Britain, when the Krush strain was lost in Bahrain.)
Krayaan Kuhraman M599, bay stallion, born 2010, by Jellaby Maroof M309 out of Kray Al Khurra M365
Krayaan Kuhraman M663, bay stallion, born 2010, by Jellaby Maroof M309 out of Kray Al Khurra M365 and Krayyan Nashwaan M663, grey stallion, born 2012, by Rabdaan Naif M154 out of Kray Amana M214
Suwaity Mamdooh M671, grey stallion, born 2012, by Krayaan Sager M197 out of Suwaitieh Enaam M363
Suwaity Munem M580, grey stallion, born 2009, by Jellaby Mansoor M152 out of Suwaitieh Enaam M363
Shawaf Azraq M624, grey stallion, born 2011, by Rabdaan Alawsaj M291 out of Shawafah Thabita M310
Shawaf Baarah M406, grey stallion, born 2005, by Jellaby Sultan M49 out of Shawafah Reisha M141
This morning I received my copy of Judi Forbi’s latest book “Ansata Hejazi: Born to Rule” in the mail. It is a tribute to one of the best stallions she ever bred, Ansata Hejazi, a Dahman Shahwan. His owner Mohammad al-Marzouq showed him to me at his stud in Kuwait in 2012, along with more than a dozen of his daughters. I wrote an article in this book upon Judi’s request, about the historical origins of the Dahman Shahwan strain. I showed how it was – by far – the oldest attested Arabian horse strain, and I traced it back to north eastern Yemen in the XIIIth century AD. I also found that Shahwan was an historical figure, a Bedouin leader from the ‘Abidah tribe who played a prominent role in supporting the military conquests of the Rasulid dynasty of Yemen between 1270 and 1290 AD. It is original research based on evidence from three types of sources: a set of four Yemeni chronicles from Rasulid times; analyses of oral Bedouin epic folk tales, consisting of various versions of the “the epic of the Dayaghim” as recorded by Alison Lerrick in Central Arabia and Nino Van Reisen in Jordan in the 1980s, and in Lady Anne Blunt’s Journals from…
Musannah Hanoof M598, grey mare, born 2010, by Jellaby Mansoor M152 out of Musannah Ghazwa 1235 and her filly born 2016
Musannan Awaad M635, grey stallion, born 2011, by Rabdaan Baher M294 out of Musannah Ghazwa 1235
Tuwaisaan Talleb M555, grey stallion, born 2009, by Rabdan Alawsaj M291 out of Tuwaisah Khabaari 927
Saqlawieh Dhabiya 1621, grey mare, born 2010, by Obeyaan Al Muheeb 957 out of Saqlawieh Manaar 1246
Shuwaimeh Al Zubarah 1292, grey mare, born 2002, by Hamdaany Nejd 850 out of Shuwaimeh Menwah 905 and her bay colt Shuwaiaan 1792 by Mlolshaan Wesam 1371
Krayaan 1706, grey stallion, born 2014, by Mlolshaan Wesam 1371 out of Kray Tameya´a 1399
In his 1936 book “Rihlah ila Bilad al-‘Arab” about his journey to Arabia in search for Arabian horses, Dr. Ahmad Mabrouk of the Royal Agricultural Society of Egypt mentioned two mares of the Kuhaylan al-Kray strain in the stud of Prince Saud ibn ‘Abdallah Ibn Jalawi, governor of the Eastern region of the then newly established Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [translation mine]: “Krush al-Kray, golden chestnut, no white on the face, pretty head, nice legs but short neck, five years old, her dam the bay Kray, and her sire the bay ‘Ubayyan.” “Bay Kray, white on the hind legs, pretty, eight years old, not to be mated.” This seems to suggest that the strain of Kuhaylan al-Kray (or Karay), was actually an offshoot of the more famous strain of Kuhaylan al-Krush, but was not to be mated for some reason. As I came back from Bahrain where I saw representatives of this rare strain, I dug a bit deeper and found the following in the ‘Abbas Pasha Manuscript, in the section on Kuhaylat ibn Jarshan, the Jallabiyah: “and we [several elders from the ‘Ajman testifying] mated her to Kuhaylan al-Karay, the horse of Ibn ‘Ulbah of Aal Mu’yid of Al ‘Ajman” This reference constitutes…
Kuheila´t Aladiyat Wasamah 1296, chestnut mare, born 2002, by Kuheilaan Aafas Rakaan 886 out of Kuheila´t Aladiyat Ray Iaanah 809 and her chestnut filly born 2016 Kuheila´t Aladiyat 1782 by Shuwaimaan Sadeq
Kuheila´t Umm Zorayr Alia 1612, bay mare, born 2010, by Maánaghy Mesbah 1101 out of Kuheila´t Umm Zorayr Mafkhara 1387 (the first mare I posted here) and her bay colt Kuheilaan Umm Zorayr 1776, born 2016
Kuheila´t Umm Zorayr Nadija 1568, grey mare, born 2009, by Hamdaany Wadhah 901 out of Kuheila´t Umm Zorayr Zaraya 1036 and her colt Kuhailaan Umm Zorayr 1775, bay, born 2016, by Hamdaany Senafee 1381 Two colts playing: Kuheilaan Um Zorayr 1775 (right) and Kuheilaan Um Zorayr 1776 (by Hamdaany Ra´an 1294 out of Kuheila´t Umm Zorayr Alia 1612)
Rabda Eshtahar 1392, grey mare, born 2005, by Hamdaany Wadha 901 out of Rabda Hujaisieh 789
Hamdanieh Khawla 1637, grey mare, born 2011, by Shawaf Al Betaar 953 out of Hamdanieh Buttha 1198
Tuwaisah Ajla 1694, bay mare, born 2014, by Obeyaan Al Muheeb 957 out of Tuwaisa Sallamah 1072
Hamdaany Zaizoom 1349, bay stallion, born 2004, by Saqlaawy Saba´an 327 out of Hamdanieh Khaznah 914
Kuheilaan Aafas 1708, bay stallion, born 2014, by Dhahmaan Hoobeishi 1085 out of Kuheila´t Aafas Nood 1086
I met Regina and Warren in Bahrain for the first time, after corresponding with them for seven years. They have been preserving the Dahman strain branch of the original Bahraini mare Sawannah in Germany, with their foundation mare Ghazalah (Ibn Taamrud x DB Jasidah by Desert Jalam) and her daughter Muharraq by Theeb. They also breed a Hamdani strain from Al Kamila (Desert Dhellal x Bint Amiraa). The ancient Dahman strain died out in Bahrain with the death of Dahmeh Umm Wajnah, and is now only represented by a stallion, the last of his line, Dhahmaan Hoobeishi, whose photo Matthias Oster posted below. So the Royal Stud of Bahrain sought a replacement for their lost line, and Regina sent three mares, and now a fourth is on her way. When in Bahrain, Regina was gifted an Ubayyan stallion (photo below, with the ruler’s brother) who will hopefully reach Europe sometime next month.
In the same vein as this note in 2014: Fadlallah Jirjis, a Syrian Christian from the area of Wadi al-Nasara, and a close friend of Dr. Iskandar Qassis, owned a precious Hamdaniyat al-Simri mare from the Qassis herd. He would never be tired of repeating that she was from the breeding of ‘Ajaj (Ajaaaaaaj as he would say it) ibn Shibib, one of the Sba’ah leading Shaykhs. She was a bay daughter of Sahab, the beautiful bay Ma’naqi Abu Sayfayn head stallion of Qassis; her daughter Zabia, was by Qassis’ other stallion, Kharuf, a Ma’naqi Zudghum. Ma’naqi Abu Sayfayn and Ma’naqi Zudghum are the two most precious branches of Ma’naqi Sbayli, the first from the Fad’an and the second from the Sba’ah.
Jellaby Janah 1683, chestnut stallion, born 2014, by Tuwaisaan Tha´atha´a 1251 out of Jellabieh Hathaari 1380
Musannan Al Sabah 1701, chestnut stallion, born 2014, by Mlolshaan Wesam 1371 out of Musannah Albushiya 1409, one of the rare chestnut horses in Bahrain
Ma´anaghieh Tabasheer 1057, grey mare, born 1997, by Musannaan Dinaar 866 out of Maanaghieh Shalfa 774 and her filly Ma´anaghieh 1789 by Mlolshaan Wesam 1371: Ma´anaghieh Ghada 1665, grey mare, born 2013, by Dahman Hoobeishi 1085 out of Ma´anaghieh Tabasheer 1057 Ma´anaghieh Maysa 1625, grey mare, born 2011, by Obeyaan Al Muheeb 957 out of Ma´anagieh Tabasheer 1057 Ma´anaghieh 1714, grey mare, born 2014, by Rabdan Sary Al Leil 1090 out of Ma´anaghieh Tabasheer 1057
Suwaiti Mamdooh M671 at the stud of Sh. Muhammad B. Salma in Umm Jidr. From a strain recently received from Saudi Arabia after the original Bahraini line of Suwaitia Kuwaitia had died out. He looks different from the other Bahraini horses. Photos Amanda Jane Smith.
Ubayyaan Azheer M361 at the Stud of Sh. Muhammad B. Salman. Photo Amanda Jane Smith.
Mlolesh Wesaal M654 at the stud of Sh. Mohamed b. Salman. Photo courtesy Amanda Jane Smith.
Putting together information from Judi Forbis’ series of articles “Pearls of Great Price” on Bahraini horses as reproduced in Classic Arabian Bloodstock, with information from Dana Al Khalifa’s introduction to her “Living Treasures of Bahrain”, and comparing these with the current strains existing at the Bahraini Royal studs, one can list the Arabian horse strains lost to Bahrain in the course of the last 80 years: Shuhayban, which is Kuhaylan ibn Waberah (mare gifted to Egypt in 1930s, as reported in Forbis, strain died out before 1970s) Kuhaylan Om Soura (in Forbis, strain died out before Forbis visit in 1970s) Dahman Najib (in Forbis, strain died out before Forbis visit in 1970s) Kuhaylan ‘Ajuz (reported as current in Forbis and Danah, died out before WAHO conference of 1998) Hadban (reported as current in Danah, died out in 1980s) Hadhfan, which is Ubayyan Umm Al-Ardaf (last stallion featured in 1998 catalogue, strain died out in early 2000s) Wadnan (last stallion featured in 1998 catalogue, strain died out in 2000s) Suwaiti (last stallion featured in 1998 catalogue, strain died out of 2000s, replaced with a branch from Saudi Arabia) Krushan (strain died in 1990s or 2000s, replaced with non-asil branch from UK) Dahman Umm…
Rabdaan Sary Al Leil 1090, dark bay stallion, born 1998, by Ma´anaghy 148 out of Rabda Al Wannaan 815
Dhahmaan Hoobeishi 1085, dark bay stallion, born 1998, by Kuheilaan Umm Zorayr al Dheleem 407 out of Dhahma Umm Wajnah 821
From Kina Murray: I always find it interesting how much the Bahraini horses, especially the stallions, somehow change when in motion. This is Jellaby Kher, from 1998 WAHO conference visit to Umm Jidr stud.
One of the main reasons why some strains do not appear in the Abbas Pasha Manuscript is that they had not been formed or named yet. One example is Kuhaylan Hayfi in Northern Arabia, and another is Kuhaylan Al-Aadiyat in Bahrain. The latter strain is peculiar to Bahrain, stemming from a Kuhaylah Ajuz of the Bedouin Shaykhs of the ‘Ajman tribe, gifted to Bahrain at the turn of the XXth century. The story of how it was named is told here. Note that both Kuhaylat al-Aadiyat and Kuhaylat Umm Surayyir/Zurayr both came to Bahrain from the ‘Ajman tribe of Eastern Arabia. Lady Anne Blunt already noted the ‘Ajman original provenance of many of the Bahrain strains.
Again, elevating this other quote Laszlo relayed from Valerie Noli-Marais’ 1972 article in Arabian Horse News, because it’s very relevant to the discussion about the pronounced male-female difference in Arabian horses, but also to other earlier discussions on dished profiles: ”The stallions are between 14.3 and 16 h.h., very masculine, short-backed and compact, with long powerful necks, with prominent crests, good withers, broad and deep chests, and tremendously powerful quarters. Top-lines are good and tail carriage is truly magnificent. the legs apart from disfigurement by the shackling,are excellent and dry with large flat knees,short pasterns and large strong hooves… The mares are smaller, 14.2 to 15 hands high, feminine, with finer heads,more to our western taste. Some had quite good dished profiles, although this factor is not mentioned in the traditional standards. When questioned about the “dish”, it was apparent that this was not sought after or bred for, but happened to be present in some horses. It is tolerated in mares but not in stallions.”.. She certainly knew how to identify and describe the good points in an Arabian horse. Her last sentence, about the dish being tolerated in mares but not in stallions, certainly rings a bell, in…
Kuheilaan Aladiyat Dami 1587, grey stallion, born 2009, by Hamdaany Wadhah 901 out of Kuheila´t Aladiyat Afeefa 1212
Saqlaawy Al Faisal 1275, grey stallion, born 2002, by Kuheilaan Aafas Falaah 916 out of Saqlawieh Schmooc 1033
In a comment on an earlier post, Laszlo reminded us of this quote from Valerie Noli-Marais in an article from a 1972 Arabian Horse News issue about the horses of Bahrain: “When a Bahrain Arabian horse is taken off its hobbles and proudly bursts into motion, with mane flying, dark kohl ringed eyes flashing, tail straight up like a banner and arching his long neck, it is a sight to bring tears to the eyes of any horse lover – for truly it is he – the real Drinker of the Wind… The wonderful photos Matthias Oster has been featuring here over the past two days are an illustration of this. So is this photo of Saidan Gharib at the 1998 WAHO conference in Bahrain. One of the things I loved the most about these Bahraini horses is how different stallions are from closely related mares, often their sisters and their mothers. Just as in wildlife, there is a differentiation between the male and the female, which has almost been erased in the show horse. Bahraini stallions exhibit strong primary masculine features like thicker necks, while mares’ neck are much thinner.
Hamdany Ra´an 1294, bay stallion, born 2002, by Jellaby Hataan 945 out of Hamdanieh Khaznah 914, one of my favourite stallions in Bahrain
Jellabi Balsam 1169, grey stallion, born 2000, by Kuheilan Aafas Ttaawoos 416 out of Jellabieh Awaali 778
Jellabie Soroog 1169, bay mare, born 2000, by Mlolshaan Areen 827 out of Jellabieh Al Anoud 889 and her colt Jellaby 1783, bay, born 2016 by Rabdaan Sary Al Leil 1090 Jellabieh Malaha 1548, grey mare, born 2008, by Shawaf al Betaar 953 out of Jellabieh Soroog 1169 Jallabieh Ghabra 1622, grey mare, born 2010, by Shawaf Al Betaar 953 out of Jellabieh Soroog 1169 Jellaby 1704, bay stallion, born 2014, by Shuwaimaan Sadeq 1117 out of Jellabieh Soroog 1169
Tuwaisah Zeinat Al Bahrain 1094, bay mare, born 1998, by Kuheilaan Umm Zorayr Al Dheleem 407 out of Tuwaisah Newaadir 859 Tuwaisah Ishtahar 1411, bay mare, born 2005, by Obeyaan al Muheeb 957 out of Tuwaisah Zeinat Al Bahrain 1094 Tuwaisah Yasmin 1522, bay mare, born 2008, by Dahmaan Hoobeishi 1085 out of Tuwaisah Newaadir 859
Tuwaisaan al Jamur 1613, bay stallion, born 2010, by Obeyaan Barakat 1093 out of Tuwaisah Newaadir 859 And his dam: Tuwaisah Newaadir 859, bay mare, born 1991, by Hamdaany Shaamikh 81 out of Tuwaisah Ttaraayif 758
Obeyaan Shamet 1335, grey stallion by Kuheilan Aafas Falaah 916 out of Obeyah Karaeb, born 2006 His dam Obeyah Karaeb 1042, bay mare, born 1997 by Jellaby Nejib 404 out of Obeyah Danaanir 808
Musannah Bint Al Bahrain 1192, grey mare born 2003, by Obeyaan al Muheeb 957 out of Musannah Galaayid 855
Kuheilah Umm Zorayr Mafkhara 1387, grey mare born 2005 by Hamdany Wadhah 901 out of Kuheilah Umm Zorayr Corrat Al-Ein 798, at the Royal Stables , 12. February 2017
I came back from Bahrain with my head swirling with images of desert-bred Arabians, which still look like the way Arabians ought to look like (read: not like China dolls or sea horses or “living art”). One of the strains that survive over there — and nowhere else — is that of Kuhaylah Umm Zorayr, with a precious few mares left at the Royal Stud (below, a yearling from that strain in 1998, second photo credit Kina Murray). In her “pearls of great price” article series, Judi Forbis mentions the strain in passing among the many strains Bahrain had preserved by the early 1970s, but without elaborating further. There is a bit more information on the website of the Royal Stud, which relates the wonderful story of an old black mare of that strain that was first believed to be way past breeding age, but when put back in training in 1969, produced a daughter that carried the line forward. I thought this was all there was. Then, while flipping through the Abbas Pasha Manuscript — that bottomless treasure — I came across “the History of Kuhayla om Sareer”, and Her Name is Dahma”, on pages 580 and 581, and it occurred…